German network agency has to fix thousands of wireless interferences in 2018

BERLIN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The German network agency (Bundesnetzagentur) identified and remedied around 4,700 cases of wireless interferences and electromagnetic incompatibilities in 2018, often caused by unauthorized equipment, the agency announced on Wednesday.

In 2018, more than 1,200 of the total cases handled by the Bundesnetzagentur related to "safety-relevant areas" such as aeronautical radio, radio communications of rescue services, fire departments and police, railway radio as well as Germany's public mobile radio network.

Jochen Homann, president of the German network agency, said that the testing and measurement service of the Bundesnetzagentur ensures that "frequencies can be used efficiently and without interference" throughout Germany.

The Bundesnetzagentur investigated a total of around 1,600 cases of unauthorized frequency usage and decommissioned devices and WLAN networks that were operated on "unallocated frequencies".

According to the German network agency, most of the devices responsible for such unauthorized frequency usage had been sold online and did not meet the standards set by the European union.

In comparison to the previous year, the total number of disruptions, which were remedied by the German network agency, has decreased. During the year 2017, the agency registered a total of 5,200 incidents.

Anyone causing frequency interference does not have to expect a fine by the German network agency if "the disturbances were caused through no fault of their own". Institutions, companies and consumers in Germany can make use of the agency's testing and measuring service free of charge.

Peter Schmidt, technician at Deutsche Telekom, however, warned against the deliberate use of so-called "jammers or mobile phone killers". Such use would immediately be "a case for the public prosecutor" and would result in a fine of 1,500 euros (1,709 U.S. dollars) by the Bundesnetzagentur. Enditem